Who Is Colby Nixon? Meet the Rising Star Behind Kat Richardson on Beyond the Gates

photo credit: Joshua Maclin

Before she became one of daytime television's most talked-about new faces, Colby Natasha Nixon was quietly doing the work. A Howard University and UC San Diego graduate, the Richmond, Virginia native has taken her classical training straight to one of CBS' boldest new series, Beyond the Gates, and the industry is taking notice.

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We have readers in different countries. Could you introduce yourself for those who might not know you?

Hi everyone! I’m Colby Nixon and I’m an actor!

You grew up in Richmond, Virginia. How did that environment shape who you are today?

Richmond is a small town and although we take our art very seriously (thank you very much), we know it’s no Hollywood haha. So, it taught me that opportunities aren’t just going to be handed to you. You have to fight for them. Sometimes you have to travel for the audition, send a couple of emails, introduce yourself again and again but never give up. I also had family, friends, and a community that rooted for me and still do to this day. So I’m also reminded to never forget where I come from and the people who loved me first.

Beyond the Gates is already being described as a defining moment for daytime television.

What drew you to this project?

Well, can I be honest with you for a second? I never watched a soap opera before Beyond the Gates. I know, I know! Booo, hisssss. I really was missing out though because what an exciting, interesting, and addictive genre it is. Since I hadn’t yet realized the gravity of the project, my character is what actually drew me to Beyond the Gates. I just thought Kat was so interesting!

She’s complicated, flawed, outspoken, and powerful. I felt like I could fit into the character like a glove. It wasn’t until I started to see how excited the fans were about having a soap opera that centers a black family for the first time that I thought to myself, “Oh this is important work we’re doing”. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing on this show and am excited to say we’ve been renewed for season 3 AND 4!

What aspects of Kat do you relate to the most, and which ones challenge you?

Things we have in common: We can both be very type A. Very ambitious. We have big hearts and can be quite sensitive. Kat has a much tougher outer shell though. What challenges me: Kat is TOUGH. She will speak her mind, fight for what she believes in and could care less what anyone thinks of her. She does not shy away from conflict, in fact, she welcomes it. She challenges me to take up space and to not be afraid of ruffling feathers. I hope other women can learn that from her as well. We’re not in the business of being small, okay??? Period.

Colby Nixon

What does your preparation process look like before stepping on set? And what’s one thing about acting that people often misunderstand?

Soap Operas are similar to Shakespeare in that the language does the heavy lifting. Because of the pace of soap operas, there’s no time for a ton of movement and blocking so we have to use our words to communicate everything to the audience. So, I do a vocal warm up every morning filled with a bunch of tongue twisters. If I have intense, emotional scenes, I’ll listen to music so I can get into character and focus on the given circumstances of the scene. Finally, I’m always always running lines with my castmates!

As for what folks misunderstand, I recently watched a Sterling K. Brown interview that really resonated with me. He said “A lot of people have this idea that we’re good liars…You try to inhabit the truth of the given circumstance of that character. You’re really just trying to tell the truth as authentically as you can”. I agree. Ultimately, the best actors are the ones that are able to be truthful under imaginary circumstances.

Are you someone who plans your career strategically, or do you follow instinct and opportunities?

Well, this is the Kat in me: I’m a go getter and very strategic. I listen to interviews of artists’ I admire to understand their career trajectory to learn and build a path for myself. I meet with my team to keep editing and adjusting our plan of action. I do that because I know there are some things I can’t control, but I make sure I know what I want, who I am, and what I’m willing or not willing to do.

As your career accelerates, what are you most focused on protecting or building?

I want to protect my relationships. I’m married, I have a big family and a handful of close friends  who have known me for years. It can be really easy to get wrapped up in this fast paced industry and with each project you meet new people. I want to make sure I continue to nourish my relationships even as my star grows because they’re the ones that ground me and remind me of who I am outside of all the glitz and glamour.

What kind of roles, stories, or collaborations would define the next chapter for you?

I’m really interested in comedy, specifically a romcom. I grew up watching movies like Love & Basketball, He's Just Not That Into You, When Harry Met Sally, etc etc. and I think I’m pretty damn funny! Ultimately, though, I’m pretty open minded. Beyond the Gates is my first on-camera role so to be a part of any other project (as long as it aligns with my values) would be a dream come true!

Also, I’m really excited to create something with my husband. We’ve been working on a film that touches on Lupus and I can’t wait for people to see what we’ve been building.

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Journalist: D.R.

Courtesy of K Williams Public Relations #ColbyNixon #BeyondTheGates #CBS